This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WarmthInACrust #CollectiveBias. Here I’ll share my tips for achieving a perfect golden-brown pot pie crust and my favorite Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad Recipe.

There are some foods that spell home and comfort to me.

When I was a little girl, even though both my parents worked, they tried to make sure that we would eat our meals together as a family. I always loved it when my mom would bake a Marie Callender’s Pot Pie. My dad would squeeze a bit of lemon on my pot pie slice, and we would all dig in, and enjoy our time together.

In the cooler months I enjoy a hearty chicken pot pie. Marie Callender’s Family Sized Chicken Pot Pie is baked with a delicious gravy mixed with vegetables and all white-meat chicken, in a golden, perfectly flaky crust. Baking a pot pie is also a nice break from my normal meal-making routine as a pot pie is very easy to make – just heat, eat, and enjoy.

Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad

Now, as an adult, I like to pair my Family Sized Chicken Pot Pie meal with my favorite Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad. It’s a crisp, hearty salad that combines fresh fruits like strawberries, pears, and apples, with the crunchy sweet taste of sliced almonds and candied pecans. I like to add some feta cheese on top for a creamy texture. This salad has so much flavor that I don’t think it needs a salad dressing – and I often eat it just the way I’ve pictured it here.

If you enjoy a salad dressing with your salad, a raspberry vinaigrette would pair beautifully with the fruity flavors of my Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad. The rich greens of the romaine and spinach make it a “meaty” salad, with an adornment of sumptuous fruit and nut flavors.

Whenever my husband’s family hosts a family gathering, they almost always ask me to bring one of my “fruit” salads; and what they mean when they refer to my “fruit” salad, is the one I’m sharing here with you today.

Now you may, or may not, have noticed how lovely my pot pie crust appears in these photos, and I’m happy to share with you my “crust-browning” tips. It’s such a simple step, but it makes a world of difference in how your crust will appear when you serve your Family Sized Chicken Pot Pie. Here I’ll share my tips, and my crunchy, fruity and delicious salad recipe.

Prepare your Pot Pie

To get the brown crust that you see in these photos on your pie at home, simply whip up a single egg white and use a basting brush to apply a thick layer of egg white to the outer crust of the pie before putting it into oven to bake – you will not use all of the egg white in this process.

Marie Callender’s recommends puncturing the outer shell of the pot pie with a fork to create venting holes in the surface of the pot pie. You need the pie to defrost for at least five minutes before doing this, so the outer shell of the pie can be punctured without cracking it.

Once you’ve made the fork holes and the star-shape, you can baste the pot pie crust surface with the egg white.

Here you can see where I’ve liberally coated the entire surface of our family’s pot pie – this will give the crust a nice golden color.

Directions to Bake a Marie Callender’s Family Size Chicken Pot Pie

Preheat oven to 375 degrees farenheight.

Thaw the pot pie for five minutes at room temperature. Gently pierce center crust 3 to 4 times with a fork to vent.

Cook on baking sheet in the center of the oven for 1 hour and 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Remove pot pie from oven on baking sheet – handle carefully as it will be hot.

Check that the pot pie is cooked thoroughly – internal temperature needs to reach 165 degrees as measured by a food thermometer in several locations around the pie.

If the edges of the pot pie start to brown excessively, simply cover the edges with a strip of aluminum foil to prevent over-browning during baking.

Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad

I’ve featured all of my salad ingredients here. I used the scallions in this photo to garnish my pot pie.

Ingredients for Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad

2 – Fresh green-ripened Pears – they’ll be a little soft to the touch

6 – Strawberries – use the freshest you can find

2 to 3 Apples – I used Gala

1 Bag fresh Organic Spinach

1 Bag fresh organic Romaine Lettuce

1/2 Cup Feta Cheese

1/2 Cup Candied Pecans

1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds

If you prefer, sharp shredded cheddar cheese also tastes great in this salad

Directions for Apple and Pecan, Fruit and Nut Salad

Step 1 – Wash all produce throughly.

Step 2 – Use a few paper towels to dry the salad lettuce leaves – this creates a “crisper” salad.

Step 3 – Trim off the stems and leaves from the strawberries – slice each berry from top to bottom and then slice into pieces 1/2 inch square.

Step 4 – Cut up the pears and apples. For the pears and apples the skin is optional; I like to leave the skin on as it adds color and texture to the salad. In addition, the skin contains vital nutrients – but it’s up to your taste preferences. Slice the pears and apples into pieces 1/2 inch square.

Step 5 – Dump 1/2 of each bag of spinich and romaine into the salad bowl and toss to mix.

Step 8 – Tossing the cheese and nuts into the salad is completely optional. As these toppings tend to be my personal favorite I like to leave them on top, so I can get lots when I serve up my salad.

Step 9 – Salad dressing is completely optional – I like sweet flavors, so I find that a raspberry vinaigrette pairs well with this fruity nut-topped salad.

Serving Options

You can opt to serve the salad first while keeping the pot pie warm in the oven, or you can plate both together and let your family or guests eat as desired.

The Marie Callender’s Pot Pie, fruits, nuts, feta cheese, salad bags, plates, salad bowl, cutting board, and pinch bowls can all be found at Walmart. I picked up our pot pie in the frozen foods section where you find Family Meals.

Warmth in a Crust

Marie Callender’s recently established the Comforts From Home Project —a program dedicated to bringing the heartwarming feelings, flavors, and favorites of home to those who miss it most. Their aim is to bring the comforts of home to those who protect America’s homes every day: the brave men and women of the U.S. Military.

Every time you enter a code from a specially marked package of Marie Callender’s meals or desserts, Marie Callender’s will make a donation to USO2GO, a USO program that brings electronics, sports gear, books, games, and more to troops stationed in remote locations. Go to the Comforts From Home Project to find out how your code can make a meaningful donation to someone far from home.

P.S. – I blog to encourage moms, offer free preschool tools, and share ideas for family fun. If you enjoy free recipes, printables, crafts and games for little ones, ideas for family fun and encouraging posts for moms, sign up and have Happy and Blessed Home delivered to your inbox. Simply enter your e-mail address here:

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